Decades-old Lasala’s Deli heads in a new direction

The new owner is making changes, renaming the restaurant The North End. He has remodeled the spot at 910 E. Fifth St., putting the kitchen in back and opening up the dining room for more seating. He has added menu items including such appetizers as mozzarella sticks, along with handmade “giant” pork tenderloin sandwiches and a hot Italian beef sandwich called “The Don Bosco.”

Pete Mesh has been a longtime Northender, growing up on Harrison Street and often lining up to order sandwiches at the lauded Lasala’s Deli nearby.

Now the 28-year-old is behind the counter as the new owner.

He has remodeled the spot at 910 E. Fifth St., putting the kitchen in back and opening up the dining room for more seating. He has added menu items including such appetizers as mozzarella sticks, along with handmade “giant” pork tenderloin sandwiches and a hot Italian beef sandwich called “The Don Bosco.” The menu also includes a variety of other deli sandwiches, pasta dinners and desserts.

In a few weeks, Mesh will introduce a dinner menu that will include eggplant Parmesan and other menu items using recipes that have been handed down in his family for five generations.

Lasala’s has operated in the spot since the 1920s. But in May, Mesh will trade the Lasala’s logo for a new name — The North End.

“We are making some changes, but we want to continue the legacy of making great Italian food,” Mesh said.

Westport Landing

• Westport Landing will soon have a new sandwich shop chain and a new locally owned steakhouse.

Which Wich Superior Sandwiches is entering the market with its Westport restaurant, scheduled to open June 3 at 554 Westport Road, Suite 100.

The chain is known for offering specialty and customizable sandwiches. The Signature Wicked is stocked with turkey, ham, roast beef, pepperoni, bacon and three cheeses. The Thank You is a nod to Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce.

Other selections include the huevos rancheros breakfast sandwich, barbecue pork with slaw, French dip, grinders and gyros, vegetarian sandwiches from caprese to black bean patty, shrimp po’boys and teriyaki chicken. The menu also includes salads (any Wich on a bed of iceberg lettuce or spinach), the new Lettucewich (any Wich wrapped in lettuce), hand-dipped shakes and freshly baked cookies.

Customers use markers to put down their orders on menus that are printed on sandwich bags. They select a sandwich from 10 categories and then the type of bread, the sandwich size, cheese, spreads and vegetables. The sandwiches are then delivered in the bags. Dine-in customers can put “artwork” on their sandwich bag when they are done and hang it on the community wall in the restaurant.

Which Wich was founded in Dallas in late 2003. There are now about 300 locations open or in development in 30 states.

• The locally owned Louisiana Prime New Orleans Chophouse is taking a former Japanese steakhouse and sushi restaurant spot at 556 Westport Road.

The partners are still working on final details but describe it as a fine dining steakhouse with a Creole influence. They plan a major remodeling before an October opening.

They also are in negotiations for an Overland Park location.

Bye, QuikTrip

QuikTrip is pulling out of the Sprint Center.

From the start, the mini convenience store was intended to be more of a marketing tool than a moneymaker, the company said.

When it opened with the Sprint Center in October 2007, QuikTrip also was introducing freshly made sandwiches, salads and wraps from its new QT Kitchens, and the venue was a quick way to get the word out. The store offers a limited selection but the same prices as other QuikTrip stores.

“It was profitable in regards to what we were trying to accomplish. But we never intended it to be like a normal QuikTrip,” said company spokesman Mike Thornbrugh.

No closing date was available, but Thornbrugh said it would be soon.

The location also was QuikTrip’s first time partnering with another venue.

“Our name will still be part of the naming rights,” he said.

Sprint Center officials couldn’t be reached for comment.

Quick bite

• The new owners of the Corner Restaurant at 4059 Broadway are hoping to have a soft opening on April 29.